Device and method for generating electrical power

摘要

A mobile device for generating electrical power may include a combustion chamber and a heat sink. A TEC module is in thermal communication with the combustion chamber and the heat sink to transfer thermal energy from the combustion chamber to the heat sink. A heat flux across the TEC module causes electrical power to be generated. The mobile device may also include a fuel delivery system to feed fuel into the combustion chamber. A control system may be included to at least monitor and control delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber by the fuel delivery system and to control a temperature gradient across the TEC module to control the electrical power produced by the thermal-to-electric energy conversion device.

主权项

1. A mobile device for generating electrical power, comprising:
a combustion chamber; a hot spreading plate disposed at one end of the combustion chamber and in thermal communication with the combustion chamber; a plurality of thermal-to-electric conversion (TEC) modules; a cold spreading plate, wherein the plurality of TEC modules are disposed between the hot spreading plate and the cold spreading plate and in thermal communication with the hot spreading plate and the cold spreading plate to transfer thermal energy from the hot spreading plate to the cold spreading plate, a heat flux across each of the TEC modules causes electrical power to be generated by each TEC module; a fuel supply, wherein the fuel supply surrounds the combustion chamber, the fuel supply comprising a spool of wire fuel and the combustion chamber extends through a center of the spool of wire fuel; a fuel delivery system to feed the fuel wire into the combustion chamber; and a control system to at least monitor and control delivery of fuel to the combustion chamber by the fuel delivery system and to control a temperature gradient across the TEC module to control the electrical power produced by the thermal-to-electric energy conversion device.